• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Combining sentences with appositives and participle phrases; Combining sentences). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which is the best way to join these sentences? We stayed inside. It was raining. • Because we stayed inside it was raining. • We stayed inside but it was raining. • We stayed inside, it was raining. • We stayed inside because it was raining. (Because we stayed inside it was raining. / We stayed inside but it was raining. / We stayed inside, it was raining. / We stayed inside because it was raining.) → We stayed inside because it was raining.Prompt: How are the two ideas linked: adding, contrasting, giving a reason, or a result?
2. Jamal finished the marathon in under four hours. He was exhausted but proud. Which choice combines the sentences most effectively? (Jamal finished the marathon in under four hours, he was exhausted but proud. / Exhausted but proud, the marathon was finished by Jamal in under four hours. / Exhausted but proud, Jamal finished the marathon in under four hours. / Jamal, the marathon, exhausted but proud, under four hours.) → Exhausted but proud, Jamal finished the marathon in under four hours.Prompt: Turn one sentence into a phrase that describes a noun in the other.
3. What has the writer used to combine ideas in this sentence? Racing down the hill, the cyclists reached sixty kilometres an hour. (an appositive / a participle phrase) → a participle phrasePrompt: Does the added phrase start with a noun group (a…, the…) or with a verb form (-ing, -ed, -en)?

• Show two openings to the same piece of writing and ask which makes them want to read on.
• Share the objective: Using subordination to show how ideas relate. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Some species of bamboo can grow almost a metre a day. Most trees grow only a few centimetres a year. Which choice best emphasises the contrast?
• Step 1: Subordination makes one idea depend on another, showing exactly how they relate and which matters most.
• Step 2: 'Whereas' sets up a direct contrast.
• Step 3: So the answer is: Whereas most trees grow only a few centimetres a year, some species of bamboo can grow almost a metre a day.
• Answer: Whereas most trees grow only a few centimetres a year, some species of bamboo can grow almost a metre a day.
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. The museum is free. Few local people visit it. Which choice best shows the surprising relationship? (Because the museum is free, few local people visit it. / Even though the museum is free, few local people visit it. / The museum is free, so few local people visit it. / The museum is free and few local people visit it so.) → Even though the museum is free, few local people visit it.Prompt: Decide the relationship: contrast, cause, result, condition, or extra detail.
2. Choose the subordinating conjunction that makes the relationship logical. ___ the tickets were expensive, the concert sold out in minutes. (Because / Although / So that / Unless) → AlthoughPrompt: Is the relationship contrast, cause, purpose, condition, comparison or time?

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Choose the subordinating conjunction that makes the relationship logical. We left early ___ we could get good seats. (whereas / unless / so that / although) → so thatPrompt: Is the relationship contrast, cause, purpose, condition, comparison or time?
2. Octopuses have three hearts. They are remarkable animals. Which choice makes the main idea 'remarkable animals' and adds the heart fact as supporting detail? (Octopuses, which have three hearts, are remarkable animals. / Because they are remarkable animals, octopuses have three hearts. / Octopuses are remarkable animals; but they have three hearts. / Octopuses have three hearts, and they are remarkable animals and.) → Octopuses, which have three hearts, are remarkable animals.Prompt: Decide the relationship: contrast, cause, result, condition, or extra detail.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-9.